The Miami Heat had an excellent regular season and they have a chance to finish on top of the Eastern Conference which will bring them the home court advantage throughout the whole playoffs. The Hawks on the other hand will have to go through the play-in tournament but where they will play the crucial game makes a huge difference.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat has been on top of the Eastern Conference with a 51-28 record and they are on the right path to finish on top of the conference which will bring the home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Heat is the third-best defensive team in the league allowing only 105.2 points per game and is ranked second in the league allowing 41.7 rebounds per game. When it comes to shooting percentage, the Heat are ranked fourth allowing 44.5% field goal percentage and third allowing 33.9% from the three-point line.
Jimmy Butler is the leader of the team averaging 21.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 47.8% from the field and only 22.7% from the three-point line. Bam Adebayo has emerged as one of the best centres in the league recording 19 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on 55.6% shooting from the field.
Tyler Herro is the favourite to win the Sixth Man of the Year award as the third-year guard is averaging 20.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 44.2% from the field and 39.6% from three-point territory.
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are having a pretty disappointing season as they stand eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 41-37 record. After making to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, their expectations for this year were sky-high but they will need to go through the play-in tournament just to make it to the playoffs this year.
The Hawks are the second-best team in the league shooting 37.3% from the three-point line and have multiple long distance threats on their roster such as Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kevin Huerter.
Atlanta is sixth in the league with 113.8 points per game and fourth in free throw percentage with 81.2%.
Trae Young is having another great individual season and the leadership he showed in the last playoffs gives the Hawks hope to reach the postseason again. The point guard is averaging 28.3 points per game which puts him fourth in the league. He is third in the league with 9.6 assists per game and he also adds 3.8 rebounds.
Power forward John Collins has missed 18 games so far in the season and his absence was one of the key factors in the Hawks’ low record this season. Collins is averaging 16.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Another player who struggled with injuries this season is Bogdan Bogdanovic. The Serbian sharpshooter was moved to a bench role after returning from a knee injury and it seems like that was perfect for him. He is averaging 14.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3 assists on 35.9% shooting from deep and 40.6% in the last 10 games.
Our tip for the Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks game
There is a big chance these two teams to face off in the first round of the playoffs and both teams will try to use this game to send a message to the opponent. The Heat need this one to stay on top of the conference and have a home court advantage throughout the playoffs. The Heat are one of the best defensive teams in the league and they will focus on slowing down Trae Young who can easily go over 35 points every single day.
Jimmy Butler will play a major part in that and that will be the key for the Heat to win. Both teams are great three-point shooting ones and this game will probably go over the total points margin but the Miami Heat will definitely win.